Finding Comfort

Reading: The Demon's Lexicon Sarah Rees Brennan

Of the four of us, H and M had security blankets. Z and I opted for Teddy Bears of a fashion. For M it was a Winnie The Pooh bed sheet. Eventually, fed up with how filthy and cumbersome it was, my mother cut a square from the corner and dubbed it M's "Travel Blankie". H had a blanket from her crib which she still had up until a few years ago (not that she still carried it around. She just had it). As for Z and I, she had the descriptively named "Red Bear" and I had "Mousey" a mouse dressed as Mrs Clause that I received for my first Christmas and still has a place of honour in my bed. Most kids have a security object of some sort growing up. That one special object that, for whatever reason, makes them feel comfortable wherever they are.

Do we grow out of these simple comforts, or do our lives get too complicated to be soothed by the fuzz of a toy against our cheek? My opinion? We transfer those feelings to other things. Gadgets, favorite bands, certain foods. For me it's clothes. Shoes mostly actually, but clothes too. One of my favorite series' The Sisterhood of The Traveling Pants by Anne Brashares is about a pair of jeans that brings a group of friends together. The pants become a symbol of the support they find in each other and become a sort of shared, grown-up security object. M has a sweater that she wore for much of a trip to Cuba that she swears still smells like the all the best parts of the trip.

I find the most comfort, not in the clothes with the softest fabrics, but the ones that make me feel the most comfortable in my own skin and with the best memories attached. Prime example, and my inspiration for this post, is the black bustier-style top and flowing skirt combo I wore today. The top is form fitting with very little give. It perfectly camouflages my problem area (my stomach), but that's also where it is at it's narrowest. The experience puts me in mind of a Victorian lady. Nevertheless, I know I look good in it. I've been told as much. That confidence boost makes me feel a hundred times better than even the comfiest sweats ever could. I suspect I'm not alone in this too. Why else would women continue to endure the discomfort of sky-high heels? The media can't be entirely to blame.

<3 G

Date A Girl Who Reads

http://littlemissdorkette.tumblr.com/post/3118512524/date-a-girl-who-reads-by-rosemarie-urquico

"We're Diva's"

I liked Mercedes' "We're Diva's" speech in tonight's Glee. With this in mind I've decided to create a Diva playlist. It's long, but here it is in it's entirety.

1. Sparkling Diamonds (Nichole Kidman)
2. Don't Rain On My Parade (Glee)
3. Cue The Rain (Queen Latifah)
4. Feeling Good (Jennifer Hudson)
5. Take It All (Marion Cotilard)
6. Defying Gravity (Idina Menzel/Kristin Chenoweth)
7. Listen (Beyonce)
8. Beautiful Liar (Beyonce)
9. Single Ladies (Beyonce)
10. And I'm Telling You (Jennifer Hudson)
11. Raise Your Glass (P!nk)
12. Rehab (Amy Winehouse)
13. What The Hell (Avril Lavigne)
14. Before He Cheats (Carrie Underwood)
15. F--k You (Cee-Lo Green)
16. Lady Marmalade (Christina Aguilera/Lil' Kim/Mya/Pink)
17. Mercy (Duffy)
18. Bust Your Windows (Jazmine Sullivan)
19. Kiss 'N Tell (Ke$ha)
20. Just Dance (Lady Gaga)
21. Happy (Leona Lewis)
22. Fairytale (Sarah Bareilles)
23. Holding Out For A Hero (Bonnie Tyler)
24. It's Raining Men (The Weather Girls)
25. I Will Survive (Goria Gaynor)
26. Pretty Girl Rock (Keri Hilson)
27. Maneater (Nelly Furtado)
28. Feedback (Janet Jackson)
29. So What (P!nk)
30. To The Left (Beyonce)
31. Bootylicious (Destiny's Child)
32. Hot Stuff (Donna Summer)
33. A Star Is Born (Hercules Soundtrack)
34. Zero To Hero (Hercules Soundtrack)
35. The Gospel Truth (Hercules Soundtrack)
36. Respect (Aretha Franklin)
37. Valerie (Glee)
38. Firework (Katy Perry)
39. Rude Boy (Rhianna)
40. Coolest Girl (Bonnie Grueson)
41. Stutter (Joe Walker)
42. Obsessed (Mariah Carrie)

It's really more a Confidence/Female Awesomeness playlist (with one guy), but it does the job.

♥ G

The Superbowl Experiment

Reading: Shake Hands With The Devil Romeo Dallaire

Since I have the day off anyway, I've decided to watch* the Superbowl. I know absolutely nothing going in and actually had my sister decide who I was rooting for this morning by picking a or b. A was Packers, B was Steelers and she chose B.

Oh Ellen. For a lesbian you sure know how to pick 'em.

I'll update this post throughout the day and let you all know exactly how lost I am.

*Have it on while playing The Sims 2

14:30

Things That Baffle Me
- In addition to the 4 hour game, there is 4 hour preshow. What on earth do they have to talk about for 4 hours?- There a red carpet

- Neither team is from Texas. Why are they playing there?

- Canada is part of the NHL, NBA and whatever the acronym for Baseball is, why aren't we in the NFL? Are are we, but our teams just aren't good enough to be really noticed?

High Points

- Guy Feiri doing a demo (with Ritz Crackers)

- It's the 'Ritz Crackers Preshow" which just sounds so ridiculous and makes me laugh a little every time.

- Apparently a guy from my beloved home-town won a contest to go

- Inspirational story from a girl wanting to be the first female kicker in the NFL

- That Tide commercial with Elvis's 'Devil In Disguise'

15:50

Things That Baffle Me

- Most of the terminology

- All the fuss over the Stadium

- Harrison Ford's earring

High Points

- Keith Urban's performance. I'm finding I quite enjoy Country.

- Female reporter's outfit.

- Catherine Zeta Jones' earrings.

18:12

I got a bit distracted and really took in nothing until I looked up and realised it was six and the game was starting. Sort of.

Things That Baffle Me

- Maroon 5's performance.

- Jamie Foxx babbling about calf muscles.

- The sponsors.

- Can't satisfy my tater-tot craving 'cause I can't open the oven.

High Points

- Jenifer Aniston on the red carpet.

- Cars trailer.

- Inspirational montage before the team ran onto the field. Couldn't help feeling a little psyched up.

- I found frozen yogurt in the freezer.

19:06

The game's started and I'm really, really lost even after reading several 'Football for Idiot's' type

articles. Next step is to google Football for complete fricken morons.

Things That Baffle Me

- Apparently you can get in trouble for' excessive celebration'?! Is this a real thing, or was the comenter joking?

- Christina Aguilera singing the anthem. I'd seen SNL mock how singers try to put their own spin on the anthem when they sing at big sporting events, but until today I always assumed they were over-exaggerating it. Shouldn't it be the one song that really doesn't need improving?

- Lea Michelle's pants. It took me the whole of her performance to figure out that she was wearing pants. I couldn't figure out why her legs looked so weird.

- Where are these commericals? Do you only get them in the US? Or do they just really suck-ass this year?

Highlights

- I did see a car commercial with sheep driving cars.

- My yogurt was delicious

- I just remembered that Glee should be on afterwards which means Darren Criss.

Aw, Yeah.

19:54

Bored as shit. Switching to Lost.

♥ G

Love Yourself

Reading: Gods Behaving Badly Marie Phillips

Valentines day is coming and if, like me, you're currently - ahem - unattatched you may not be looking foreward to it. In the past I've done the go out with girlfreinds thing, the wallow in self pity thing and the grade-school valentines for collegues and friends route. This year I've decided to do something new. I'm going to show myself some love. I plan to use the as-yet untried Jacuzzi tub, read God's Behaving Badly or Insatiable, enjoy some risotto and just generally relax. I'm thinking of it as a belated new years resolution.

♥ G

I made myself a desktop to inspire me. If you like it, you're welcome to it (just don't upload it or anything like that).

2010 in Review

Reading: Cosmo (I'm between books and, yes, it feels weird)

New years eve is a time when most of us remember all the resolutions we broke and all the things we didn't accomplish, rather than everything we have. So this year, armed with a mini-carton of ice cream and some awesome Wizard Rock, I'm going to do both.

Last New Years, I got home from a party with my friends and stood for a moment in my back yard. It was quiet and snowing and really quite beautiful and I wanted to enjoy it all. The picturesque snowy yard and the lingering high I get from laughing for hours with the people I love. I made my one and only resolution for the year then. I decided that this was going to be my year. I'd put all 2009's screw-ups behind me and start actually accomplishing something. Well, I sort of did. So without further ado - 2010 in review.

• I moved out. It may not be Toronto, but still, it's a step in the right direction. I'm loving it too.
  
  
• I got into the program I wanted. Unfortunately it was part-time in Ottawa and really not doable, but I also made it onto the waiting list for the full-time one in Toronto and that was more a timing thing than a lack of qualifications, so I'll try again this year.
  
  
• I stopped worrying about my body. I've (mostly) learned to be content with how I look right now. Constantly worrying about it and trying to diet will never make me as happy as enjoying my food and learning to dress for, what I've accepted to be, my body type*.
  
  
• I put Dumbledore up (twice). Years ago I got a huge Dumbledore poster circa CoS. It's got Richard Harris on it instead of Gambon and is one of those huge vynil things they hang in theatre lobby's for big openings. The bottom's still rolled up 'cause it's taller than my room and it creeps my sister out, but I love it none the less. It's probably the nerdyest thing I own and it's completely jokes. When I moved I had to take it down and only just got him back up this week.
  
  
• I put all my messing about on Photoshop to good use and got it published. I joined the Publishing volunteer committee for Infinitus and helped design the program. It was more rushed than I expected, and involved late nights and a fair amount of frustration on all sides, and in the end a lot of it got changed, but my names in there and there's enough of my stuff to make feel feel proud when I look at it. Oh and about 2500 people recieved a copy so, y'know, it was pretty cool.
  PS. I no longer have any of the files since my computer got wiped. So, guess that's a con.
  
  
• I went to Infinitus. I may still be paying for it, but I went. And it was amazing.
  
  
• I discovered several new interests and generally embraced my nerdiness. I am so much more comfortable in my skin now and I wear my mens Griffindor sweater with pride (and carry my wand when the occasion calls for it).

So in short, not a bad year. I made changes, both big and small. I made some amazing new friends and I met someone I think I really like. So here's to 2011, let's hope it's as 2010.

♥ G

Talk Nerdy To Me

Reading: A Christmas Carol Charles Dickens

I've known for a
while now that I have 'a thing' for slightly (or not so slightly) nerdy guys, but I only just realized how serious it really is. Take The Big Bang Theory. Even on a show about nerds (and Penny) I go for the nerdiest. Sheldon is my absolute favorite. I recently stumbled upon some Penny/Sheldon pics that have blown my mind. So here it is, my top nerd crushes in no particular order.

1. Dr. Sheldon Cooper

2. Dr. Spencer Reid









3. Sam Winchester
That's early Sammy. When he still did research and was the moral-compass of the duo. Y'know. Before he became a giant douchebag.





4. Hank Green
'cause he never FTBA.






5. Michael Moscovitz
God bless Meg Cabot for bringing him into my life. And I'm talking about Book-Micahel, not the spazzy movie-Michael.




6. Matt Smith as The Doctor
Bow-ties FTW.










It's late and I know there are more, but right now my mind just keeps coming up with the same RL example so before I do something stupid, I'm signing off.

♥ G